Conor Swail Wins in $35,000 ACTC Cup

Another day, another huge and fast jump-off and another win for Ireland’s Cono Swail and the 12-year-old bay mare Flower (Bon Ami x Randel Z). Flower, who is co-owned by Swail and international Canadian rider Vanessa Mannix, has won 7 of her last 12 FEI ranking classes.

“She can be a little tough – hard in the bridle and sassy. But she is so competitive. She understands what winning is and what you need to win. Conor really brings out the best in her,” said Mannix.

In tonight’s class, 18 of 45 starters qualified for the jump-off on Werner Deeg’s (GER) course. Two riders – crowd favorites Richard Spooner (USA) and Keean White (CAN) chose to save their horses for Saturday Night’s FEI World Cup Qualifier.

The sixteen to jump-off, which included Andy Kocher on two horses, Hardin Towell, Jennifer Gates, Beth Underhill, Laura Jane Tidball, and Tayah Sobie, was bound to be fast. Quebec’s Isabelle Lapierre went early double clear in and fast to make them catch her and ended 4th. Daniel Coyle went after Swail on his two horses – finishing 2nd on Cita and went all out on Tuesday night’s winner Fortis Fortuna, but incurred thee rails.

Kyle King (USA) came close at the end, finishing 3rd with Escudo’s Triumph. King took over the ride this year on the 10-year-old (Escudo I x Wanderkoenig) earlier this year from his client who had shown him in Young Rider’s classes. Stating at the 1.30m, King moved up quickly to the 1.40m and grand prix level with the Stuart Belkin owned gelding.

Werner Deeg, Daniel Coyle, Conor Swail, Pia Fortmuler and Kyle King.

Royal West Wednesday & Thursday Competition Wrap-Up

In the Adult Hunters, Chris Blanchard and Bella Vita took the red in the first class. Ella Cole and Ohlala won in the Children’s Hunter and Sonja Sward and Arctic Bay took the top call in the Low Hunters. In the Modified Child/Adult Hunters, Letter Perfect was awarded the Championship with Susan Macintosh and Valencia and Celine Smolensky took the Reserve.

The $5,000 1.30m Open Jumper was won by Wang Chung M2S and Mitchell Endicott, a pair that have been no stranger to red ribbons at this year’s Royal West. Alison Locke and Limequyl claimed the win in the $5,000 1.20m Open Jumper, with Billy Boundary and Kyle King hot on their trail in 2nd and Fast Flow and Brooke Peterson rounding out the podium in 3rd.

The 3 year old Futurity Overall Championship was claimed by Riot KF and Rebecca Graham, who won all three stages – in hand, under saddle, and jumping flight. Karin Johnson and John van den Bosch’s Janieka was Reserve Champion Overall, scoring 2nd in both the under saddle and jumping flight and 7th in hand. The class saw twelve entries of both aspiring hunters and jumpers.

$35,000 ACTC Open Classic 1.45m CSI3*
Rider / Horse / Country / Faults Round 1 / Faults Round 2 / Time Round 2
1. Flower / Conor Swail / 0 / 0 / 39.07 s
2. Cita / Daniel Coyle / 0 / 0 / 40.13 s
3. Escudo’s Triumph / Kyle King / 0 / 0/ 41.23
4. Cescha M / Isabelle Lapierre / 0 / 0 /43.45 s
5. Concetto Son / Laura Jane Tidball / 0 / 0 / 44.56 s
6. Artemise du Houssoit / Andrew Kocher / 0 / 4 / 41.24 s
7. Kahlua / Andrew Kocher / 0 / 4 / 41.40s
8. Brise CR / Tayah Sobie / 0 / 4 / 42.47 sec
9. Luftikus S / Jennifer Gates 0 / 4 / 42.96
10. Count Me In / Beth Underhill / 0 / 8 /43.29 s
11. Emilie de Diamant A S / Hardin Towell / 0 / 8/ 46.41 s
12. Fortis Fortuna / Daniel Coyle / 0 / 12 / 39.08 s